Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1887-06-03
A TRIPLE ALLIANCE.

Dora Carmichael was an extremely
pretty girl, whom to see was to admire
and perhaps to love, in most mems opin-
ion. Women did not take precisely this
view of her merits; but then, as we all
know. women are VIGOROUSLY jealous.
Still, even a very pretty girl may be CON
sidered as abusing her privileges if she
she engages herself to more tnan two
men at once. Now, this was precisely
what Miss Carmichael had done, and was
not alittlep erplexed by the consequences
of her rashness. Not only had She, UNI
known to and in disobedience of her peo-
pie, kept on her engagement with BERTHE
Haselrig, of the artillery, but to please
her parents and also her own ambi-
ton, she had consented month or two
since to accept Mr.. Lorimer son and heir
to old Sir James Lorimer. And now, to
crown all, fortnight ago, at the Mars
dens' ball, Lord Liscarrol had propoIed,
and she had not been able to refuse him.
Concerning Captain Haselrig she had
little anxiety, as he had gone to India on
being forbidden the house by Mr.. Carmi-
chael, who considered tie handsome, i'm
pecunious soldier by no means an eligible
match for his only daughter and heiress.
But it had taxed even her ingenuity to
keep Mr.. Lorimer and Lord Liscarrol ig-
norant of each others claims on her.
Lorimer certainly did not suspect the ex-
istance of rival; but LiscarrOl had more
than once resented the airs of proprietor
ohsrN cd ~ ho |,
pressed Miss Carmichael to allow him at
once to apply to her father. This was
horribly perplexing. Mr.. Carmichael
was wealthy, self-made man, whose
fortune had sprung, as he was only too
fond of Boosting, from the traditional
fourpenny-bit. He possessed ultra-radi-
cal opinions, but in his heart was as fond
of lord as most people, and Dora we'll
knew would have been as delighted at her
latest conquest as she herself could have
been. Still, she felt convinced that his
word once pledged, he would not let her
throw over Charles Lorimer, even for
such a party as Lord Liscarrol. So she
told her lover dolcful story of stern
parents, an unsympathetic sutton, and an
oppressed daughter divided between
duty and dislike to the match proposed.
''But are you engaged to that cub
LorimerW asked Liscarrol impatiently.
"No! 0 no! certainly not engaged :;
but it is very possible l might have be-
come so to please dear papa had I not
met you" This, said with the sweetest
timidity and bashful look, had the full
effect intended.
''But now, DoraW
"Well, now | must make the poor
fellow understand it is impossible-give
him his congo, in fact, 50 decidedly that
even self sasisied that he is, he can make
no mistake, and then coax papa as best l
can"
Still Liscarrol insisted
''But, don't you see Lord Liscarrol-
well, Arthur, then-that if you go to
papa directly / have sent off Mr.. Lorimer,
he will suspect what has occurred and
would not hesitate to treat you in the
same way7 For do what I will, I cannot
help his considering me engaged to that
horrid man,
''WelL, when will you give Lorimer his
conge4"
Tomorrow morning. He is coming
about some botanical tickets, and | will
speak to him then"
Every well, dearest; and l may look
in to hear the result, may | not?"
And so it was settled Still, it must
be confessed, the situation was troub-
lesome one, and sitting in the library the
next day, Dora thought over her plans
rather anxiously
Mrs. Carmichael WIS, or fancied her
self, an invalid, and rarely showed before
lunch land not always then, though
ready enough for her social duties
later in the day, so her daughter was al
full liberty to arrange matters as she
pleased. Accordingly she told the but
Ter that if Mr.. Lorimcr called. he was al
once TO be shown into her in the library
and if Lord Liscarrol should call in tht
meantime, he was to be told that she
would soon be disengaged, and be re
auested to await her in the drawing
room So far so good.
But ring at the door-bel startled he
from her rcverie, and she waited expect
ing to see Lorimer ushered in. Instead
of that the visitor was ushercd up stairs
and the butler announced "Cjptait
Haselrig." The blow almost staggered
her, but pulling herself together, sh,
went into the drawing-room, and tn
next moment was clasped in Haselrig
arms. A few words sutficcd to explain
his presence The death of an old uncle
his godfather, had made him master OF
rather valuable property, aud on tn,
strength of this improvement in his posi-
ton the young man had at once rushed
back from India, and, as he fondly hoped
successfully to plead his suit 'Whatcvel
heart she possessed-it was littI,
enough belonged to Haselrig, ant
she had felt genuine sorrow wher
her father SO entirely declined hi
proposals, for moment she wondered i
after all Haselrig's love might not bc
worth sacrifice. OF Lorimer she die
not think for one second but she did re
member Liscarrol and this dampenct
her ardor. Haselrig was handsome ant
fyir,V rich now Int IN was 7 n a ar